My friends, Joe and Scott, commissioned me to shoot some special photos for their wedding. Since they’re both triathletes, they wanted a series of three photographs, showing them swimming, biking and running. As we talked about it an idea came to me; since the photos were for their wedding, what if they were dressed in tuxedos from the waist up and triathlon gear from the waist down? I pitched the idea to them, and they loved it.

This was one of the most fun shoots I’ve ever been a part of. Joe and Scott both have a lot of acting experience—in fact, they met doing musical theater—and once I started shooting they had so much energy, and gave me such a variety of expressions, that I was smiling the whole time behind the camera.

The boys belong to a tri team, and they enlisted their teammates to help out with the shoot, braving the cold water of Lake Nokomis in early May. They were all good sports, going way out into the lake and swimming/running through the water as many times as it took to get everything perfect.

We did the cycling shot near their house on Lake Calhoun, And we did the running shot near the rose garden at Lake Harriet, because it gave us a treeless hill for them to be running down. My friend, Kate Dixon, made the “Just Married” finish-line tape for me.

I was so happy with how this project turned out, not only because I think the concept came through crystal clear, but also because they look so HAPPY. When I showed photos to a friend, she said “It’s like you captured joy in every shot.”

The photos were used in two ways on their wedding day. I produced a printed trifold piece that was at everyone’s place setting for the wedding reception. When you open the trifold you see a quote from 1st Corinthians, which says “Love bears all things, Believes all things, Hopes all things, Endures all things. Love never fails…” I had, of course, read this quote many times, as it’s popular at weddings. But suddenly the whole concept of the photos took on another meaning for me; the quote connected the dots between triathlons being an endurance sport, and enduring love. Joe and Scott have been together for 18 years, but getting legally married only became an option for them in 2013. Their love endured all that time until the last Saturday in June when they could finally tie the knot. (And the ruling from the Supreme Court the day before the wedding was nicely timed!)

I also asked Joe and Scott if I could take a “normal” portrait of them, because I wanted it to be the back of the trifold.

This last portrait was taken in their living room, while they were both sitting at the piano. They have such genuine affection for each other and I think it really shows in this image.

Last, but certainly not least, we had the photos printed on museum-quality paper and framed so it could be on display at the reception. Guests wrote notes of congratulations on a piece of matte board, which fits neatly into the back of the photo, making for a very special commemoration of the day. The triptych now hangs in their home.

Thank you, dear friends, for allowing me to do this project for you, and I wish you many more years of enduring love.

ProjectJoe & Scott Triathlon WeddingYear2015CrewCamera & Lighting Assistance: Chris Savage. Production Assistance: Tim Peterson. Key Prop: Kate Dixon